Emma Hayes credited the “fear of losing” as her motivation after her Chelsea team lifted a four successive league title and third back-to-back league and FA Cup double.
“The fear of losing drives me more than the will to win,” she said. “This has definitely been the hardest year. I’m relieved that it’s over, for lots of reasons. I’m a bit sad because winning the league and relegating a friend doesn’t feel good in my soul, with who I am,” she added, after Chelsea’s 3-0 defeat of Reading also ensured the Royals were relegated to the Championship.
“When you’re always chasing, the whole year, because you lose the first game and then games are cancelled, it almost felt like the pressure wasn’t on us, because we were never in the front position for long.
“We’ve had different experiences of being first and being second and, to be honest with you, we like being in both of them. This year we knew we had to dig out results sometimes.”
Guro Reiten has been key to Chelsea’s success this season, which has seen them win the league with the most wins in a single season and the biggest points tally. The Norwegian forward has provided 11 assists and she set up Sam Kerr, who scored twice, and scored herself at the Madejski.
“She’s my player of the season,” Hayes said. “She’s unreal. She’s exceptional. She’s really grown up and become a leader in this team. She’s got an unbelievable mind, very wise. Funny, witty, but she’s got an eye for a pass that is second to none. She doesn’t even have to see where Sam moves, she just gets half a yard and she always finds her. Guro Reiten deserves to be recognised as one of the best players in the world.”
Marc Skinner thinks Manchester United’s second place finish has sent a warning to Chelsea. They matched the Blues’ points tally of last season but it was not enough to win the league on this occasion.
“I would have hoped that would have won the league but unfortunately it didn’t, so we have to go again next year and be better,” the United manager said.
“We are closing that gap [Chelsea] every single day. If you look at the gap in budget between ours and theirs, it is two points at the end of the season. We’ve got to be even better next season. Chelsea will be very aware of Manchester United.”
United also lost the FA Cup final to Chelsea but have secured their highest finish and Champions League football. “I want to win the league and win cups but I also have to appreciate how far we have come in such a short space of time,” Skinner said.
